WNBA's attacks on players for speaking out is unacceptable

UPDATE: WNBA president Lisa Borders has rescinded the fines for all players who wore warm-up T-shirts honoring the movement for Black lives

In the wake of the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile by police and the shooting of five police officers in Dallas, WNBA teams wore warm-up T-shirts honoring the movement for Black lives and the slain officers. Players took the court wearing shirts that said phrases like “Change Begins With Us,” "Justice and Accountability," and "Black Lives Matter."

But this week, the WNBA decided to crack down on the players for their statement against violence and police brutality. With more than 70% of the league being made up of Black athletes, the WNBA is heavily profiting from the hard work of Black players and should not be trying to silence them as they call for an end to the violence they face daily.

Join us in demanding that the league rescind their fines immediately!

To WNBA President Lisa Borders:

Immediately rescind all fines and penalties for the players and teams that have spoken out against police brutality.

This is about more than fines, this is about the WNBA reinforcing that police violence in our communities doesn’t matter, that our issues aren’t important and that speaking on them makes you subject to punishment. With more than 70% of the league being made up of Black athletes, the WNBA is heavily profiting from the hard work of Black players and should not be trying to silence them as they call for an end to the violence they face daily.

The WNBA has a history of supporting the freedom of athletes to express themselves when it comes to political and social issues. Most recently, the WNBA gave every player T-shirts in support of the Orlando tragedy in June. The daily killing of unarmed civilians at hands of law enforcement is a tragedy that also deserves public acknowledgement.

If the league is truly “proud of WNBA players' engagement and passionate advocacy for non-violent solutions to difficult social issues” then you will rescind these fines and support these athletes calls for justice, just like they did in the wake of the Orlando shooting.